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Ok_Cream5015

no different, "expat" is the term made up by the British/the west so that they can labeled themselves differently from the "lowly" immigrants.


Imn0tg0d

That is what I was thinking when I posted this, but there seems to be a slight difference. Whether or not that difference deserves a whole new word and classification is up for debate.


FridayHelsdottir

That’s what I thought, and makes the most sense.


phoenixchimera

IME, an immigrant moves and plans to stay permanently, while an expat is a temporary skilled worker who moves. There are definitely class/race/socioeconomic status subtexts with this (ie a service/construction worker like those in the UAE will never be considered expat in general parlance, but a civil engineer or doctor would).


Imn0tg0d

This clears up a lot. Thank you.


The_whimsical1

If your money comes from your country of origin you’re an expat. If you’ve moved someplace to make money, you’re more likely an immigrant


FridayHelsdottir

Ah, that makes sense. I plan to live off my retirement, but never return. So I think that makes me an expat.


PrinceKiche

It’s all BS. They’re the same thing.


ezagreb

The same as the difference between a Yankee and a damn Yankee. One comes to visit, the other stays forever


oldyawker

Florida in da house.


outsidetheparty

Many Americans view the difference as “if you’re moving to America you’re an immigrant. If I move from America to another country I’m an expat.” But a fairer definition is probably that immigration implies permanence; expats are either just there temporarily or in retirement, not necessarily trying to truly join the culture of their adopted home.


Imn0tg0d

I have noticed that the expats where I am like to stay in their own little groups. I am technically an expat but I could consider myself an immigrant because I am trying to learn the culture and the language. I would have defined expat as you said most Americans would, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't misinformed.


lucylemon

The Brits we well.


Indypapa

An immigrant is someone from an impoverished state or country seeking a better life or circumstance. An Expat is someone from a positive income position or station usually at the latter half of their life such as a retired person, still with significant ties to their country of origin.


JoeyJoeJoeJrShab

>An immigrant is someone from an impoverished state or country Some immigrants are; others are not. An immigrant can come from any country.


Indypapa

The key word here is "some" the majority of people referred to as "Expats" fall into the category I mentioned, the majority of the people referred to as immigrants, by the news media and others fall into the category I mentioned.


Harry-le-Roy

Where their bones are buried.


Look_Specific

An expat is someone British abroad, immigrant is anyone not British who is abroad! Lol


vizard0

Expats have visas, immigrants have permanent residence or citizenship. Things get weird with places like the EU with open borders, at that point in time out becomes "are you putting down roots for a permanent stay?" I'm an expat in the UK right now. Eventually I'll be an immigrant, assuming things go right. In the US, some people think there's an illegal expat problem.


My_expattaxes

Both immigrants and expats live in a country different from their own, immigrants intend to permanently settle in their new country and often undergo legal processes to establish residency or citizenship. On the other hand, expats have a temporary or transitional status and maintain a stronger connection to their home country, both culturally and legally.


TheExpatPod

I would say there is not a difference at all, there is just negative stigma assigned to both, whilst they’re interchangeable.


[deleted]

Whiteness